The 2025-26 academic year at Driehaus was packed — from case competitions and conferences to the many moments of community and connection between them.
Read on for highlights from Driehaus’ schools, departments, centers, and institutes.
Conferences showcase expertise
The Department of Finance and Real Estate & the Arditti Center for Risk Management
On December 2, 2025, the Arditti Center, part of the Department of Finance and Real Estate, hosted the 12th Annual Cyber Risk Conference. The theme: corporate leadership in a new era of threats.
The conference brought together multiple colleges across DePaul, offered continuing education credits, and provided valuable learning and networking opportunities for professionals and students alike.
The Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
On May 15th, the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship hosted the Seventh Annual Chicagoland Supply Chain Forum.
The forum brought together professionals from across academia and industry — all focused on the Chicago area as a longstanding yet fast-growing hub for logistics. Panel conversations included the "State of Logistics in Chicagoland," "AI in Supply Chain," "Managing Geopolitical Risk in Supply Chains" and "Industry-Academia Partnerships."
The forum was organized by Nezih Altay, professor of operations management and director of the MS in Supply Chain Management program.
The Dr. Curtis J. and Mrs. Gina Crawford Institute for Business Technology Leadership
The Crawford Institute welcomed its inaugural cohort of six sophomores pursuing careers in technology and business. Two of the Crawford Scholars, Eashal Usman and Ryan Xie, won the DECA case competition (pictured at right)!
The Institute also awarded its first two research grants to Khadija Ali Vakeel and Eric Landahl, whose work explores critical insights for businesses of all sizes on the potential and risks of implementing AI.
Institute for Business & Professional Ethics
The Institute for Business & Professional Ethics was proud to host the 32nd Annual International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference this past October, in collaboration with three other Vincentian Universities (St. John’s, Niagara, and Dublin City University). Centered on the theme of “Business Ethics and the Future of Capitalism,” this virtual conference hosted over 100 people from 13 countries and included a keynote panel on AI and Ethics as it relates to trust, power, and access.
Programming celebrates student success
The DePaul MBA
In fall 2025, the reimagined DePaul MBA officially launched. The new program integrates our LEAD pillars—Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Analytics & Technology, and Decision Making—into every course, combining AI-driven learning with real-world Chicago-based projects and an accelerated 18–24 month format. The experience culminates in the MBA Summit Pitch course, where students showcase innovative solutions to real consumer challenges, bringing their learning full circle.
The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
This year, the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center is celebrating 10 years of the Purpose Pitch competition! The competition highlights the passion, creativity, and drive of eight DePaul student and alumni entrepreneurs, who pitch ventures designed to address real-world challenges and create positive change.
The event celebrates purpose-driven innovation while fostering connections across our entrepreneurial ecosystem. It also meaningfully supports founders as they take steps towards launching their businesses; the first-place winner receives $5,000 thanks to generous alumni and corporate sponsors.
The Real Estate Center
DePaul’s graduate student team performed with professionalism, seriousness and creativity at Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation’s 16th Annual Real Estate Challenge on April 11. This year’s challenge had students look at The 78, a high-profile, mega-development centered on the new Chicago Fire stadium. The DePaul team — comprising M.S in Real Estate students Owen Schoenfeld, Ban Bonner, Katie Wagenbrenner, Chad Paquette, and Thabet Musa — put forth an actionable plan that was both economically viable and complemented the area surrounding the site.
The Keeley Center for Financial Services
In early May, the Keeley Center celebrated the graduation of its cohort #7 Academy students, marking the successful completion of a rigorous year of professional development programming. 38 students graduated as a Keeley Scholar through their outstanding performance in case studies, certifications/licenses, networking events, and other career readiness initiatives.
Hands-on learning makes an impact on Chicago
The School of Hospitality and Sports Business
Last October, among many other hands-on projects, DePaul’s HSB students got to participate directly in the operations of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, one of Chicago’s biggest sports and tourism events. We’re always proud to represent the Blue Demons, especially at such high-profile events!
The Hay Leadership Accelerator
The William E. Hay Leadership Accelerator welcomed its third cohort of juniors and seniors from across majors for a dynamic leadership development experience. Scholars participated in formal learning, assessments, microsimulations, and company visits to Ferrara and Urban Initiatives. They also heard from guest speakers, including Coach Jill Pizzoti, Juan Mendez, and Jaclyn Jensen, on topics such as leadership and professionalism.
Executive Education
DePaul Executive Education partnered with 29 organizations this year, including 11 new clients, reflecting continued growth and reach. Repeat cohorts across key partners such as Wintrust and Lochner Egis, alongside Sedgwick’s expansion to a second cohort in year one, demonstrate strong demand and partner satisfaction.
Gatherings build community
The School of Accounting & MIS
Alumni, supporters, faculty, and graduating student scholars gathered on May 27 for the School of Accountancy & MIS’s 45th Annual Ledger & Quill Donor Luncheon. This year’s theme, Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future, celebrated more than five decades of generosity and engagement that have strengthened SOAMIS’s programs and helped generations of students succeed.
The Department of Economics
The Economics Department created the Economics Department Office of Student Engagement, which hosts new extracurricular events to promote student engagement, including quarterly alumni career panels and their new State of the Economy panels. These State of the Economy panels bring in local economists working in industry to talk about how the current economic environment is impacting business decisions in their firms.
The Department of Marketing
In November, students, faculty, and staff came together in celebration of Thanksgiving at the Department of Marketing’s annual Potluck with Professors. This gathering is an opportunity to enjoy local foods, share cultural traditions, and celebrate the diverse heritage of the department and college community.
The Business Advising Team
On May 2-8, Driehaus celebrated Global Advising Week. The week is dedicated to recognizing the vital role that academic advisors play in supporting students’ success. Within the past calendar year alone, the business academic advising team had over 13,000 scheduled appointments and reviewed more than 1,900 applications for graduation.